Shannon News TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1925.

Shannon News, 18 August 1925, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1925.

At the Shannon Co-operative Dairy Co.'s annual meeting on Saturday, it was stated that the turnover at the Company's store had increased in ten years from £6OOO to £30,000.

On enquiry at the Hospital yesterday it was ascertained that His Worship the Mayor (Mr Murdoch) is still progressing favourably towards recovery.

The many friends in Shannon and district of Miss Freda Cameron, who was seriously injured, on the Levin Golf Links last week, will be pleased to hear that she is holding, her own.

At a meeting of the Ladies' Guild of the Shannon Methodist Church held last week, it was. decided to hold a "Shop Day" on Saturday, October 10th.

The visiting day for Shannon by the Plunket Nurse has been changed from Wednesday to Monday. The new arrangement commenced yesterday.

The children of the Shannon School, marching deep, under the Headmaster, Mir White, attracted a good deal of notice in Stout Street and Plinuner Terrace one day last week. The smart jst'ep and fine marching of the scholars was very favourably commented upon.

Over 900 Palmerstonians took advantage of the special train to visit the American Fleet at Wellington on Sunday, with the result that a second special train had to ibe 'run to accommodate them and a large number ,of Manawatu line residents. Instead of the special leaving Shannon at 9 a.m. it was 10.30 a.m. before it took its departure, reaching Wellington at 1.15 p.m., but when it is remembered that the Department had to make arrangements far putting on another train and find the necessary men to work it, the delay was not as great as one would have expected. Additional to the ordinary special train there was another from Wanganui which also was well patronised. A total of 130 persons from Shannon made the trip.

A meeting of the management committee of the Shannon Football Club was held on Saturday evening to receive a deputation from the Shannon School Committee to discuss the official opening on Thursday revelling of the recreation ground under the new lighting scheme. After a free discussion it was decided to play two matches, one between Mangaore and Shannon Seniors, and another between Western United and Shannon Third Grade. The first matcn is to start at 7 p.m., and admission will be: Adults Is, children collection. After the matches are over a dance will take place in the Druids' Hall to which admission will be: Gents 2/6, ladies 1/6. The proceeds of both football matches and dance are to be on 50/50 basis for the School Piano Fund and Football 'Club. Several settlers from Mangaore offered to assist, their offer being gratefully received. Mr King offered to do all carting gratis. The club decided that their share be placed in a separate fund to pay for lighting, the ground when required.

Messrs Devine and Watkins advise lhat their van will visit Shannon three days a week and customers can rely on getting only the primest of meat and small goods from them. Particulars are advertised in this issue.

Howard Andrew, Ltd., opened their spring show on Saturday last and the whole staff were kept very busy with a very large crowd of patrons. The smart millinery and dainty frocks made one of the finest spring shows yet held in the district and patrons who were unable to be served are reminded the show is still on und new goods are being opened continually.*

There was a very good muster at the Choral Society's practice last week notwithstanding a 'good amount of sickness about. More new members were linked up, bringing the liumbui up to over 50. At the conclusion of the practice the choir was ambitious to tackle the "Hallelujah Chorus," and made a very good attempt at same. If practices continue to improve as they are doing it is hoped that the next concert will be given in September, so members are asked not to miss a practice. They will be glad to know that the music of "The Soldiers' Chorus," from "Faust," has arrived and will be practiced at the next rehearsal. Outside help has already been promised for the next concert.

One afternoon -last week the members of the Shannon School Football and basketball teams visited Foxton and played games against teams from the local Public School. The football match which resulted in a draw —3 points each—was a very evenly contested game. At basketball the Foxton girls suffered defeat. After the matches both teams partooik of afternoon by the Foxton' children and dispensed under the direction of the lady staff-. Mr F. Masan, headmaster, expressed the delight the Foxton children had in having a visit from Shannon School and hoped that the visitors had enjoyed their game's and would come again. Mr Morgan (teacher in charge of the visitors) thanked the children and teachers for their hospitality and invited the Foxton teams to visit Shannon after the holidays. Hearty reciprocal cheers were then ex changed.

At the School Committee meeting on Thursday evening the headmaster, Mr T. White, asked for an expression of opinion from the Committee as to the advisability of holding the annual school concert this year. He explained that he had discussed the matter with the infant; mistress (Miss Sinclair) and they were agreed that it would 'be undesirable to hold the concert owing to the fact that such a large number oi children were so backward in their studies, partly through the loss of study during the recent epidemic. He stated, the position was so serious that to put things in order it would be almost necessary to put all "he children back a standard. He said a difficulty the teachers had to contend with was that eliildrGn were not devoting sufficient time to their homework which if They did, would help materially to pull up the lost .time. The committee were quite in accord with Mr White's recommendation not to hold the concert and they expressed the opinion that it was in the best interests of the children.

Three Wanganui hotels have recently changed hands. One, the Aramoho Hotel, was purchased at a sum of five figures by a northern buyer.

Asked to contribute £230 towards the expenses of the Wellington provincial court at the Dunedin Exhibition, the Palmerston North Borough Council decided that they had no money at all to spare. One councillor doubted if Palmerston would get a half-penny worth of good from the exhibition, anyhow.

As a result of a canvas made by the Railway Department in the Feilding district, approximately 16,000 bales •of wool have been secured for rail transit during the coining season (says the .Wanganui Herald). It is stated that the department is making similar arrangements with the farming communities in other quarters of the Dominion.

It is rare in Wanganui to observe an individual forcibly ejected from licensed premises (says the' Chronicle). It is rarer still for a member of the frailer sex to be made subject to the indignity. Such a case occurred yesterday, however, the 'lady' in question addressing to her escort a'flow of vitriolic investive that would make the proverbial bullock-driver plug his ears.

The secretary of the New Plymouth Hospital and" Charitable Aid Board wrote to the Waitara Borough Oouncil demanding interest on the overdue payments of the borough's contributions at various dates— a total of 42 days at 7 per cent., amounting to 4s. It was said that the demand was made at the instance of the Healtii and Audit Departments. Payment of the 4s was authorised by the Council.

The Wellington City and Suburban Highways Board has decided in future to lay a top course of two-inch bituminous paving on the tap of its good macadam roads, instead of disturbing the macadam and laying a four-inch top* course. This is the practice on many of the American and Canadian roads, the policy being to make the best use of and save the macadam by imposing a 2 or wearing surface.

The Waipiro Bay Hospital is installing a natural gas .plant for lighting and heating purposes at a cost of £2OOO, and when completed the cost for gas will be practically nil, states the Hawkes Ba v Herald. The hospital adjoins the hot springs at Te Puia, two miles south of Waipiro Bay, where the natural gas is abundant and will no doubt in time be used to supply the requirements of the people of both Tokomaru and Waipiro Bay.

\s a motor bus was passing through Brightwater, Nelson, last week, a passenger was pointing out various places of import and old landmarks. He emphasised the importance of one ancient structure which is the birthplace of Sir Ernest Rutherford, the world-famed scientist. Such a house, said the enthusiast, should have some distinguishing mark to point out its significance. A fellow-passenger capped the suggestion by remarking. "Yes, and so it would have been had Rutherford been an All Black."

Sheep-worrying by dogs has been prevalent in the King country, un one farm alone, near Raetihi, thirty ewes were killed.

Two cows were carried in special quarters on the train in which the Prince of Wales travelled througn South Airica. They supplieu mak for the Royal Party.

Peter Moko, secretary to Ratana, will appear at the Wanganui Magistrate's Court on August 31, charged with common assault. It is alleged that the defendant kicked a Maori girl at Ratana recently.

An appeal has been inaugurated to ' raise £IOOO for the famous cat artist, ( Louis Wain. He commenced to draw ;

in 1886, and has drawn 150,000 cats. Despite past prosperity he has sold the copyright of his pictures, and is now a pauper in a lunatic asylum.

The Te Kuiti Chronicle states that m company is being floated to build a modern hotel there. Plans and specifications have been prepared for a fireproof three-storied building containing 100 bedrooms, each equipped with hot and cold water, and garag'.' accommodation for 50 motor ears.

The Palmerston North Fire Boavl has accepted the tender of Messrs Trevor Bros. (£16,300) for the erection of the new central fire station and quarters for the married firemen in Cuba Street. There were nine tenders._ The building will be of fireprpof construction and is to cost £17,000.

Demands for assistance this winter have been at a minimum, reported Mr F. Aisher, Charitable Aid Officer, to* the Palmerston Hospital Board yesterday. This was especially so "in the Foxton and Levin districts. where he had only been paying out approximately £2 10s as against £lO to £lB per month last year.

"Lost, a bunch of keys. Two pounds reward." This notice was exhibited in the window of a butcher's shop in

country district not many miles from Oamaru (says the North Otago Times). The keys were promptly restored, but the finder was a little disappointed when he discovered that, the reward was two pounds of sausages.

At the conclusion of the hearing at Wanganui of an application made by a woman for a renewal of a prohibi tion order against her husband, an act Avith no small degree of humour put the closing features on the case. The application was refused, and the lady smashed her umbrella on her ■other half's head. There was not a suspicion of affection in the effort, either. / The Court orderly did the rest.

Discussing rates at the Waipa County Council meeting Cr. J, S. Fisher said a few ratepayers in his riding had taken exception to the.eighth-of-a-penny increase. The chairman replied that he had heard no squeals in his riding yet. Ratepayers had only to read the newspapers to observe that practically all local bodies in the province had been forced to increase their rates on account of the increased hospital apportionments and other levies.

A despicable act of*cruelty occurred in Manaia on Friday afternoon when someone fixed with wire a bicycle wheel to the tail of a horse a*nd set it galloping down the Manaia Road (the Witness reports). Maddened with fright the poor heast galloped wildly through the town, narrowly missing the children who were leaving 1 school, and careered through the back streets of the town lashing out wildly at the wheel. When caught it was found to be severely cut about the heels both hind legs, being running with blood.

With some enthusiasts the "royal and ancient" game of golf comes only second to their work in importance. A story is told in Southland of a sporting stipendiary magistrate who went to hold Court in a small township. After the session had finished the magistrate produced a lengthy brown paper parcel and unwrapped his favourite putter. Borrowing a pocket-knife, he cut a hole in the grassy sward outside the courthouse and spent two hours' wait till train time in improving his green play, blissfully ignorant of the amusement of the natives of the town.

Applications for employment at the Auckland office of the Labour Department continue gradually to decline, the figures from last week being 190, as compared with 193 tlie previous week, and 200 for the week before that. Those classed as. fit for heavv work numbered 150. Labour ers headed the list with 54 applications. Next in point of numbers were clerks 17, engineers, fitters and turn ers 15, cooks and hotel workers 12, motor drivers 9, and seamen and firemen 9. During the week 25 men, including nine farm hands and seven labourers, were placed in private employment. Work was found for ten labourers with the Public Works Department.

How the foreman of a gang erected poles for the Te Awamutu Power Board at Pio Pio met his death was told at the inquest upon Ernest Oliver Spraggs aged 35, which was held at Hamilton. It was stated that the gang totalled live men, and the pole in question was placed in a hole sft. 6in deep. It was a heavy pole, about 35ft long, and the services of the entire gang were required to hoist it into the vertical position.. Spraggs was lifting on one of the back pikes. and at this juncture the pole suddenly turned around, rolled off the pike, and fell to the ground. .When the pole broke loose, as it were, the pike was released, and Spraggs fell forward directly under the, pole, which pinned him to the ground by the head and arm. He was lying face down- j wards and was unconscious when the pole was removed.

Mr F. W. Walters, of Waitoa, formerly of Stratford, who is described as tne largest dairyman in the Waikato, had excellent result from his herds during the past season. He has seven herds, comprising 627 cows, milked by sharernilkers, and the average production of butter-fat per cow i-angeii from £SO lb. a herd of 54 two-yr-old heiier, to 330.571 b. from a herd of 87 cows. Considering that the Dominion average is under 2001 b. per cow, it is evident that Mr Walters pays great attention to testing and culling, the best means of raising the average production.

A rare visitor was shot at a country homestead no great distance from Napier the other night (relates an exchange). A farmer, hearing a commotion in his fowlyard, found that his agitated hens had been scared by a strange bird. Thinking it was a hawk, he shot the intruder, and found to Ins surprise that it was a kaka ; The complete'absence of native bush in the locality makes the kaka's presence lite stranger. Years ago kakas were seen as close to Napier as the Esk Valley, but now they are very rarely seen away from the wooded eouiwry up in the hills.

"There are too many permits granted for the holding of. art unions at the present time. If we go on the way we are, vou will find that eventually we will "be in the same position as certain cities, in South America in respect to casinos. It will have to be checked." So observed Mr A. E. itankiu at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr Rankin considered that •he Chamber should take steps to voice a protest against the number of art union permits granted, his reason in the main being that the practice was conducive to gambling. Members' of the Chamber pointed out that the Department of Internal Affairs was at present occupied 4n dealing with the matter. It was unanimously decided to endorse the Department's attitude in this respect.

A herd of 27 mixed dairy cows, owned by Mr F. H. Bell, Waimana, Bay of Plenty, gave a fine return last season. Thev produced 11,1861 b. of butter-fat, a;i average of 4141 b each. Twenty-two o. F the cows gave an average of 479.61 b of fat in days, while the best cow gave 566.891 b. of fat in 310 days. The' cow-s appeared to be of very ordinary quality of mixed breeds, and cost their owner less than £lO each three years ago. The cows were run on 54 acres of river flats, most of which was in pasture. As supplementary feed they were fed on eight acres of turnips, carrots, mangels and chou moullier. The land was of excellent quality and the pasture was top-dressed with 21cwt. of superphosphat annually. Mr Bell attributed the performance of the cows to the fact that they were well fed ind well looked after.

A case of considerable interest to business people was before the Magistrate's Court at Hawera, when Messrs O'Dea ami Bayley, solicitors, were charged with failing to stamp a receipt of £2 (says the Star). The tacts of the case were that Messrs O'Dea and Bayley, acting for clients, sent.a note demanding payment of a debt from a man. E. M. Pentecost, of Christchurch. and on receipt of the sum of £2 from Pentecost a receipt was sent which inadvertently was not stamped. The debtor gave them no opportunity to correct the error, but put the unstamped document in the hands of the police, and hence the charge, was brought against .them. After reviewing the circumstances the Magistrate said he was quite satisfied that the offence was inadvertently committed. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, he considered he was justified in acting under section 18 of the Offenders' Probation Act, . and consequently his judgment would be "discharged without sentence." His Worship ordered that the document be forwarded to the nearest stamp office, there to await instructions.